Rail-clamp.



W. MCNORTON.

RAIL CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I6. I9I5.

I Patented Dec.'12, 1916.

, /IJ /o 9 l@ WILLIAM MGNORTON, OF' THOMPSON FALLS, MONTANA.

RAIL-CLAMP.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 12, 1916.

Application filed September 16, 1915. Serial No. 51,073.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM MCNORTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Thompson Falls, in the county of Sanders, State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail- Clamps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in rail clamps.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and efficient rail clamp which obviates the use of fish plates and bolts in connection with joints.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is adapted to be used in connection with wooden ties already placed in the road bed.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

1n the drawing: Figure 1 is a top plan view of one form of my rail clamp, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the rails in section, Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified form, and Fig. 6 is an elevation of the same form from the other side of the device.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing, and especially to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, 10-10 represents a pair of metal tie `members which are adapted to be placed on the ordinary wooden tie or to be mounted on the road bed. It will of course be understood that one of these metal members is disposed at each end and is adapted to support the meeting ends of the rails 11. The members 10 are each formed with a pair of upwardly and inwardlyvdirected flanges 12 and 13 under one of which is disposed one side of the flanges of the ends of the rails 11. Formed on the upper side of the flange 12 is a vertical extension 15 which carries a plurality of pins 16 adapted to be received in the openings in the webs of the rails.

A plate 17 is slipped in between the rail and the flange 13 and has formed on one side a longitudinal rib 18 which is received under the flange 13, while the opposite side is formed with a longitudinal groove 19 receiving` the remaining side portion of the base of the rail. A vertical flange 20 eX- tends upwardly from the inner portion of the plate 17 and bears against the sides of the rails opposite to the extension 15. A head 21 is formed on one end of the member 17 to limit the inward movement thereof, while on the other end is a turn button 22 adapted to be swung into a depending position against the adjacent side of the member 10 to prevent the member 17 from movement in the opposite direction. The member 17 is narrower at one end than at the other so that it will wedge in between the rail and flange 13 and thus hold the rail or rail ends against sidewise movement or against creeping.

It will be noted that the turn button 22 is reduced at its outer end portion whereby it will readily pass under the flange 13 when the member 17 is being slipped into place. Formed on the inner end of each of the members 10 is a transverse centrally disposed web which is straddled by the bifurcated ends of the arms of a screw or bolt 24, said arms being secured thereto by the vertical pins 25. The other or threaded ends of the bolts are oppositely threaded and engaged with a nut 2G whereby a turn buckle is formed. By means of this turnbuckle the rails can be adjusted to their properly spaced position and firmly held in such position. 4

1n Figs. 5 and 6, there is shown a form of rail clamp in which the flange 12 does not have a vertical extension as in the first form. rlhere is a sliding member 17 similar to the member 17 and provided with a turn button 22. 1n this form the supports and clamps for the rail arev connected by an integral bar piece 10 which forms a portion of the tie itself and may be used by itself or in connection with the wooden tie.

What is claimed is:

A rail clamp comprising a plate adapted to be secured to a tie and having a rail base engaging flange thereon, allange carried by the plate at the opposite side of the rail and spaced therefrom, said flange having a longitudinal tapering groove formed therein, a tapering rail base engaging bar slidable between the flange and the rail and formed with a rib engaging in said groove, and a turn button on .one end of said bar arranged to be turned to engage one side of In testimony whereof, I aix my signathe saidY plate to prevent backward moveture, in the presence of tivo Witnesses. ment of the bar, said turn button being arl T ranged to be turned into a horizontal pos- VILLIAM MCB ORTON 5 tion'and having its outer end reduced to Titnessesz Y be snugly received Within the groove when FRANK J. HELWICK, the bar is being inserted or removed. LYMAN R. BAR'ro.

' Copies of this patent may bie obtained for five eents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

'Y Washington, D. G. 

